Knife-sharpener



'0. A. MILLER.

KNIFE SHARPENER.

(No Model.)

No. 558,407. PatentedApr. 14, 1896.

r WZZJVESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. MILLER, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

KNlFE-SHARPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,407, dated April14, 1896.

Application filed October 5, I894. Serial No. 525,002- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inKnife-Sharpeners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to an improvement in knife-sharpeners; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

The aim and purpose of the invention is the provision of improved meansand special constructions whereby a quick, accurate, and

positive adjustment of the relative position of the several jaws may beacquired.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of thesharpener. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line a m of Fig. 3. Fig.3 is a plan view indicating portions in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a detailview of one of the jaws, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base with thejaws removed.

In the drawings, A represents the base, having the square verticalsockets a formed therein on opposite sides of its center. These socketsextend entirely through the base. In the center of the base, inalinement with the space between the sockets a, is an elongated slot 5,extending from a point adjacent the sockets to a point near the edge ofthe base. Passing horizontally through the base and terminating at theinner end of the slot 6 is a threaded opening in which an adjustingscrewB is placed. This screw B is of a length sufficient to carry its endinto the slot 7), and carries on its outer end a milled nut or disk C,by which the same is turned. In the base opposite the screw-opening isformed a circular cavity D, opening into the slot 1) and through theside of the base. In this cavity is located a spiral spring d, the sameclosely fitting and thereby being supported in the cavity, while itsinner end projects into and partly across the slot 1) longitudinally andterminates at a point in proximity to the inner end of the screw. Thetension of the spring is varied by a small abutting .screw E, threadedinto the outer end of the cavity D. By adjusting the screw inward thespring (I can be moved farther inward toward the screw B.

F, F, and F? represent the sharpening-jaws of like or uniformconstruction, having the tapered rectangular shanks fat their lowerends, the shoulder f near the upper end of the shank, and the blades fwhich have curved sharpening edges f On the lower portion of the inneror sharpening edge is formed a curved lug or lateral projection f,through which a suitable eye or aperture f is formed.

In arranging the jaws in the base the shanks of anytwo thereof, such asF F, are driven into the sockets a, and owing to the taper of the shanksthe same are tightly held in the sockets when the shanks have beenforced down until the shoulders f and under edge of the lugs f rest onthe upper face of the base. The jaws F F being thus fixed in position inthe base the eyes f thereof will be in direct alinement. The jaw F isnow adjusted by passing the shank thereof into the slot 1) andinterposing the same between the ends of the screw B and spring cl. Thenin that position, the lug f is forced in between the lugs on the otherjaws, and a suitable pintle II is passed through the eyes of therespective lugs, thereby pivotally uniting the jaws.

In operation should the cutting-surface of the jaws become worn thescrewB is turned, forcing the shank of the jaw F inward against thespring and the blade with its cutting edge in between the edges of theother jaws, so that the exposed surface or apex of the space between thejaws will be changed and a new sharpening-surface be presented. Byloosening the screw B the springwill force the jaws apart. It will beobserved that all pressure placed on the jaws F is received by the screwrather than the spring, so that the jaw is fixedly held in operativeposition.

By forming the jaws of uniform shape and size they are interchangeableand can be quickly assembled. It will be further observed that bypivotally uniting the jaws a very simple and strong fulcrum is provided,avoiding complicated or expensii e mountings and all independent slidingor vibrating movement.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the jaws F F it is only necessary to drivethem from the sockets by inserting a suitable driving implement into thebase of the sockets. This may be necessary when the pivoted jaw is wornmore than the otherjaws and it is desired to interchange the same.

It is evident that many minor changes in the construction andarrangement of the parts can be made and substituted for those hereinshown and described without in the least departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a knife-sharpenenthe combination with a base, of jaws fixedlysecured in the base, a jaw pivotally secured to said other jaws andhaving a shank thereon, a spring engaging one side of the shank forspreading the jaws, and adjustable means engaging the opposite side ofthe shank for closing the jaws, substantially as described.

2. In a knife-sharpener, the combination with a base, of a series oflike interchangeable jaws, means for securing one or more of the jawsfixedly on the base, a pivotal connection between all the jaws, a springfor normally forcing the jaws apart, and means for closing the jawsagainst the tension of the spring, substantially as described.

In a knife-sharpener, the combination with a base, of a plurality ofinterchangeable jaws on the base, a pivotal connection for one of thejaws, and means for adjusting the pivotal jaw relative to the otherjaws, comprising a screw passing through the base and loosely engagingthe jaw substantially as described.

l. In a knife-sharpener, the combination with a base having two socketstherethrough, and an elongated slot in line with the space between the"sockets, of a screw projecting into the slot, a spring in the slotopposed to the screw, jaws fixedly secured in the sockets, and a pivotedjaw having a shank entering the slot and projecting between the screwand spring, substantially as described.

5. In a knife-sharpener, the combination with a base, of a series oflike interchangeable jaws thereon each formed with shanks, inclinedblades and lateral perforated lugs at the lower edge of the blades, apintle passing through the perforations, and means for adjusting one ofthe jaws relative to the other jaws, comprising a screw passing throughthe base and loosely engaging the movable jaw substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. MILLER. lVitnesses FRED M. MILLER, BIRNETT W. NORTON.

